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Revival #2
Cold Storage: A Novel
This program is read by multi-award-winning narrator Scott Brick.
AN EXPANSIVE NEW STANDALONE THRILLER IN MICHAEL C. GRUMLEY’S REVIVAL SERIES, EXPLORING HUMANITY’S THIRST FOR IMMORTALITY AT ANY COST.
Technology never works well the first time. Or even the second. Army veteran John Reiff is living proof.
John is revived in the back of a dilapidated ambulance, on the run from a shadowy organization that is desperate to take him back. He is the first one, their archetype, and they need to know what happened after his escape. What is happening to his body and his mind. And they need to know now.
Because Reiff knows things he shouldn’t. About them and about what they are hiding. A secret that has been in cold storage for several hundred years. And the insidious, methodical plan that has been in motion for half a century.
John Reiff is their key—a problem and the solution. A lab rat gone rogue at the worst possible time. But they will find him. They have to. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Forge.
AN EXPANSIVE NEW STANDALONE THRILLER IN MICHAEL C. GRUMLEY’S REVIVAL SERIES, EXPLORING HUMANITY’S THIRST FOR IMMORTALITY AT ANY COST.
Technology never works well the first time. Or even the second. Army veteran John Reiff is living proof.
John is revived in the back of a dilapidated ambulance, on the run from a shadowy organization that is desperate to take him back. He is the first one, their archetype, and they need to know what happened after his escape. What is happening to his body and his mind. And they need to know now.
Because Reiff knows things he shouldn’t. About them and about what they are hiding. A secret that has been in cold storage for several hundred years. And the insidious, methodical plan that has been in motion for half a century.
John Reiff is their key—a problem and the solution. A lab rat gone rogue at the worst possible time. But they will find him. They have to. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Forge.
536 pages, Library Binding
Published March 19, 2025
542 people are currently reading
6180 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Grumley
18 books1,316 followersMichael C. Grumley is the author of the best-selling BREAKTHROUGH series with over two million books sold. He lives in Northern California with his two young daughters. He’s an avid reader, runner and most of all father, and dotes on his girls every chance he gets. He loves hearing from readers while he works on the next ROLLBACK book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 26, 2025
Reiff is still a popsicle when the book begins. The group l refer to as the resistance is scrambling to revive and cure him. Meanwhile the shadow group who is now known as the Nine are doing whatever it takes to retrieve Reiff, their guinea pig.
A little slow at times picks up pace heading to an explosive finish. Do not read this without reading Deep Freeze first, you'll be completely lost.
A little slow at times picks up pace heading to an explosive finish. Do not read this without reading Deep Freeze first, you'll be completely lost.
December 2, 2024
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Michael C. Grumley, and Macmillan Audiofor providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Michael C. Grumley returns with this great story that pushes the limits of scientific technology and the realm of survival. In this piece, he explores cryogenics and the slippery slope that comes from being able to live longer—even forever. When John Reiff is revived from a cryogenic state, many want to study him, though their methods and end desires are anything but pure. As he tries to stay one step ahead of a band of criminals, Reiff must make sense of what has happened to him and how he could be the answer to many scientific problems, as well as the kernel to create a criminal enterprise like no other. A great story that uses the reader to think as they enjoy get another Grumley novel.
John Reiff is a technological marvel, though some would call him a lab rat. While the Army vet is living proof that technology can lengthen one’s life, the worry is that it could also make him a target for those with nefarious ideas. Such is the case this time, when Reiff is revived from his passing in a shady neighbourhood. Many are hunting him down to study his time in cryogenics and how they can use this to their advantage.
Add to that, John Reiff holds the key to many secrets, bth military and personal, that could be highly useful in the wrong hands. Now, Reiff is a hunted man. His body, mind, and future are all hot commodities for those with the means to cultivate them. With little time to waste and no time to ponder, John Reiff will have to make smart choices if he wants to stay alive, and out of the hands of those who would use him like a lab rat once more. Michael C. Grumley keeps the reader thinking as they try to decipher the core values of scientific research based on cryogenics. A great read, though not for the passive reader!
There is something about Michael C. Grumley that always gets my mind spinning. He chooses great storylines and infuses them with keen scientific questions, all of which are worth pondering and picking a side. The narrative lays the groundwork for a great story and key areas of interest in relation to cryogenics. The reader can see all there is on offer and then pick their side, substantiating it with some of what Grumley offers up in this book. As things gain momentum, the reader is keenly aware of all that is going on, as well as formulating their position. Characters provide wonderful insights and fuel additional levels of analysis, something the reader can latch onto for their own enjoyment. Plot points are key to keeping the story clipping along and Grumley does not skimp on these either. I enjoy a book that keeps me thinking and wondering as it meanders from topic to topic with ease.
Kudos, Mr. Grumley, for a great story that left me questioning all I know!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Michael C. Grumley returns with this great story that pushes the limits of scientific technology and the realm of survival. In this piece, he explores cryogenics and the slippery slope that comes from being able to live longer—even forever. When John Reiff is revived from a cryogenic state, many want to study him, though their methods and end desires are anything but pure. As he tries to stay one step ahead of a band of criminals, Reiff must make sense of what has happened to him and how he could be the answer to many scientific problems, as well as the kernel to create a criminal enterprise like no other. A great story that uses the reader to think as they enjoy get another Grumley novel.
John Reiff is a technological marvel, though some would call him a lab rat. While the Army vet is living proof that technology can lengthen one’s life, the worry is that it could also make him a target for those with nefarious ideas. Such is the case this time, when Reiff is revived from his passing in a shady neighbourhood. Many are hunting him down to study his time in cryogenics and how they can use this to their advantage.
Add to that, John Reiff holds the key to many secrets, bth military and personal, that could be highly useful in the wrong hands. Now, Reiff is a hunted man. His body, mind, and future are all hot commodities for those with the means to cultivate them. With little time to waste and no time to ponder, John Reiff will have to make smart choices if he wants to stay alive, and out of the hands of those who would use him like a lab rat once more. Michael C. Grumley keeps the reader thinking as they try to decipher the core values of scientific research based on cryogenics. A great read, though not for the passive reader!
There is something about Michael C. Grumley that always gets my mind spinning. He chooses great storylines and infuses them with keen scientific questions, all of which are worth pondering and picking a side. The narrative lays the groundwork for a great story and key areas of interest in relation to cryogenics. The reader can see all there is on offer and then pick their side, substantiating it with some of what Grumley offers up in this book. As things gain momentum, the reader is keenly aware of all that is going on, as well as formulating their position. Characters provide wonderful insights and fuel additional levels of analysis, something the reader can latch onto for their own enjoyment. Plot points are key to keeping the story clipping along and Grumley does not skimp on these either. I enjoy a book that keeps me thinking and wondering as it meanders from topic to topic with ease.
Kudos, Mr. Grumley, for a great story that left me questioning all I know!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 27, 2024
The gangs all back: John, Rachel, Wayne, Henry, and Devin. The billionaires, who are funding the illegal government cryogenics program, are back too. They’re still planning to use John’s DNA, who was their guinea pig for the program in the last installment and use John’s DNA to make them live longer and healthier. They still have their goons looking for John and the gang who have been on the run for months now since the end of the last installment. However, the gang is looking for the machine that can bring John back to life – again.
The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and the real reason for all the research and testing of freezing and unfreezing John. What the book summary isn’t saying is that this secret that the billionaires have been keeping for decades is the real reason and purpose for the whole project that brought John back to life. The use of the program to put the billionaires into a cryogenic state was always the secondary purpose of the project. This isn’t a spoiler since it’s revealed pretty early in the story (approx. 27% mark).
The rest of the story is all about getting John back so that the billionaires can continue the real project that will reveal what needs to be done in order for them to go safely under cryogenics so that they can continue to rule the world in another time. Then late in the story, a totally unexpected reveal completely puts a whole different spin on the story leading to a shocking end. Unfortunately, it also brings an end to the storyline. Not sure if Grumley has any plans to continue, but if he does, I will certainly check it out.
There are those who will not like this story because of how unbelievable it is. That is why it is called fiction folks. It’s not a true story or even based on a true story and especially not on current proven scientific experiments and/or theories, at least I don’t think it is. Every reader has a right to their own opinions and every book has their own audience, who will love it for what it is. I feel so fortunate that I am not one of those kinds of readers whose enjoyment of a fictious story is contingent of the story’s level of believability. For me, the crazier the better. That is why I read fiction!
The continuing character development of John and his friends was good and the further development of the billionaires was certainly welcomed. The reader now gets a full picture of who all the players are. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline continued to interest me from the get-go to that shocking end. The writing was good too, but I still feel that Grumley was pretty stingy with clues and leads. I’m sure that’s by design though. The narrator, Scott Brick, is as good as ever! That guy is so good at creating a fevered pitch of suspense and intensity throughout the story, adding so much value to the story and writing. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ColdStorage
The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline and the real reason for all the research and testing of freezing and unfreezing John. What the book summary isn’t saying is that this secret that the billionaires have been keeping for decades is the real reason and purpose for the whole project that brought John back to life. The use of the program to put the billionaires into a cryogenic state was always the secondary purpose of the project. This isn’t a spoiler since it’s revealed pretty early in the story (approx. 27% mark).
The rest of the story is all about getting John back so that the billionaires can continue the real project that will reveal what needs to be done in order for them to go safely under cryogenics so that they can continue to rule the world in another time. Then late in the story, a totally unexpected reveal completely puts a whole different spin on the story leading to a shocking end. Unfortunately, it also brings an end to the storyline. Not sure if Grumley has any plans to continue, but if he does, I will certainly check it out.
There are those who will not like this story because of how unbelievable it is. That is why it is called fiction folks. It’s not a true story or even based on a true story and especially not on current proven scientific experiments and/or theories, at least I don’t think it is. Every reader has a right to their own opinions and every book has their own audience, who will love it for what it is. I feel so fortunate that I am not one of those kinds of readers whose enjoyment of a fictious story is contingent of the story’s level of believability. For me, the crazier the better. That is why I read fiction!
The continuing character development of John and his friends was good and the further development of the billionaires was certainly welcomed. The reader now gets a full picture of who all the players are. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline continued to interest me from the get-go to that shocking end. The writing was good too, but I still feel that Grumley was pretty stingy with clues and leads. I’m sure that’s by design though. The narrator, Scott Brick, is as good as ever! That guy is so good at creating a fevered pitch of suspense and intensity throughout the story, adding so much value to the story and writing. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #ColdStorage
January 4, 2025
3 stars. Found the pacing uneven for a thriller. And the ending left me unsure if this was the conclusion or if it would be a trilogy. Yeah, there's a body count, but more of a whimper than a bang.
January 12, 2025
Cold Storage from Michael C. Grumley is the second book in the Revival series - a series that questions scientific ethics, mortality, and the price associated with both!
(As it had been a year since I read Deep Freeze, I re-read the last four chapters before continuing on with John Reiff's story. Cold Storage is marketed as a standalone thriller, but instead, I'd recommend reading this series back to back for the best, most immersive experience!)
Sometimes, it's difficult to review follow-up books in a series, which is the case here. Deep Freeze wowed me in an unforgettable way, so Cold Storage had a lot to live up to. As I was already familiar with the premise, this story seemed to lack the impact the first book had. Cold Storage is incredibly descriptive, but this book seemed slightly less cinematic and less science based (which could be because most of the facts were presented in Deep Freeze); there just seemed to be a lack of big, adrenaline pumping scenes within this second book - especially when compared to the first. I also wish that John Reiff was on page more, although this shift allowed Rachel Souza to truly shine!
Grumley often starts a chapter with cryptic and hidden writing, making the reader guess as to exactly which character the scene is playing out around, and it isn't until there's the reveal of the withheld piece that it all comes together. Not only does this create an incredibly addictive puzzle to read, it's also the perfect way to create intrigue and a bit of mystery throughout the book!
This story carried on the same thread of the first book but took a unique direction, which put the characters in familiar but different circumstances!
Overall, this was a fantastic read, getting four well-deserved stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Forge Books for the complimentary copies to read and review.
(As it had been a year since I read Deep Freeze, I re-read the last four chapters before continuing on with John Reiff's story. Cold Storage is marketed as a standalone thriller, but instead, I'd recommend reading this series back to back for the best, most immersive experience!)
Sometimes, it's difficult to review follow-up books in a series, which is the case here. Deep Freeze wowed me in an unforgettable way, so Cold Storage had a lot to live up to. As I was already familiar with the premise, this story seemed to lack the impact the first book had. Cold Storage is incredibly descriptive, but this book seemed slightly less cinematic and less science based (which could be because most of the facts were presented in Deep Freeze); there just seemed to be a lack of big, adrenaline pumping scenes within this second book - especially when compared to the first. I also wish that John Reiff was on page more, although this shift allowed Rachel Souza to truly shine!
Grumley often starts a chapter with cryptic and hidden writing, making the reader guess as to exactly which character the scene is playing out around, and it isn't until there's the reveal of the withheld piece that it all comes together. Not only does this create an incredibly addictive puzzle to read, it's also the perfect way to create intrigue and a bit of mystery throughout the book!
This story carried on the same thread of the first book but took a unique direction, which put the characters in familiar but different circumstances!
Overall, this was a fantastic read, getting four well-deserved stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Forge Books for the complimentary copies to read and review.
May 4, 2025
Well that took quite an interesting turn. This was a fun adventure filled with future possibilities and continuing the story of John (the frozen man) and his friends (and enemies). The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are partly superhero and partly just regular people doing underground things for the sake of freedom. It was fun and I just went along for the ride.
January 10, 2026
Great, but what ever happened to Dallas?
December 1, 2024
While this was marketed on NetGalley as a standalone thriller, I think readers who have not read "Deep Freeze" will feel a bit unmoored as they try to come up to speed. "Cold Storage" begins right where "Deep Freeze" leaves off, so I do recommend reading book one in the Revival series first for the smoothest experience.
The characters are well developed and there is plenty of action to sweep readers along. Like with its predecessor, there are times in the book where the science gets quite technical, so those looking for a light thriller may want to look elsewhere. This technical side does help lend an air of believability to an otherwise large stretch. While I don't think I'm the target reader for this series, I know it will be well received and find its place with other readers.
I listened to this audiobook courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. Scott Brick did a wonderful job on narration and the audiobook production was strong with few to no distractions. 3.5 stars rounded down.
The characters are well developed and there is plenty of action to sweep readers along. Like with its predecessor, there are times in the book where the science gets quite technical, so those looking for a light thriller may want to look elsewhere. This technical side does help lend an air of believability to an otherwise large stretch. While I don't think I'm the target reader for this series, I know it will be well received and find its place with other readers.
I listened to this audiobook courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. Scott Brick did a wonderful job on narration and the audiobook production was strong with few to no distractions. 3.5 stars rounded down.
January 4, 2025
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.
People have been pursuing cryogenics and the hope of suspending animation until one can be revived with a cure for their disease. The pursuit of immortality. We join this story somewhat midstream where one group is hunting down the machine that makes it all possible and one group is trying to revive a test subject. There is a lot at stake and the truth will definitely surprise you.
This one is all action. Don’t expect much character development. We are on the move from page one with some nerdy scientists and rough military types. The science was cool, the twist definitely surprised me and it felt like the story flew by.
Read this one if you liked Dark Matter.
People have been pursuing cryogenics and the hope of suspending animation until one can be revived with a cure for their disease. The pursuit of immortality. We join this story somewhat midstream where one group is hunting down the machine that makes it all possible and one group is trying to revive a test subject. There is a lot at stake and the truth will definitely surprise you.
This one is all action. Don’t expect much character development. We are on the move from page one with some nerdy scientists and rough military types. The science was cool, the twist definitely surprised me and it felt like the story flew by.
Read this one if you liked Dark Matter.
June 15, 2025
Quite good. It took me a little bit to remember what happened in the first book. I found that this one required a lot more suspension of disbelief, but it was enjoyable anyway.
November 11, 2024
A new novel in the Revival series - “The Nine” (evil multi-billionaires) are getting old and impatient for the cryogenic science that is going to put them in a position to run the world in a few decades. But their test subject is missing. This sets off a cat and mouse game, leading to a shocking discovery that has far-ranging implications for the project.
It took me a little while to remember the first book, but then I was back with Reiff and the medical and scientific team working to keep him alive.
My thanks to the author, publisher, #MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Scott Brick narrates with a seriousness that drives the suspense. Publication date: Jan. 7, 2025.
It took me a little while to remember the first book, but then I was back with Reiff and the medical and scientific team working to keep him alive.
My thanks to the author, publisher, #MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook for review purposes. Scott Brick narrates with a seriousness that drives the suspense. Publication date: Jan. 7, 2025.
August 2, 2025
Too many words spent on the chase and not enough about the future stuff. More thriller than sci-fi I suppose.
January 27, 2025
I was fairly certain I was going to give this 3 stars about half way through, but then the last third of the book was...wow. This went places I wasn't expecting, and I'm a fan. I hope that some of the lingering questions I have are answered in the next installment though!
July 8, 2025
Abandoned at page 35. There is only so much bad grammar a man can take. Watching the English language being mishandled at every turn is not so thrilling.
I picked up this book without knowing that an equally poorly written novel had preceded it.
I picked up this book without knowing that an equally poorly written novel had preceded it.
November 15, 2024
(( audiobook ))
Great narration by Scott Brick (of course)!
This is book two of the Revival series, and I highly recommend listening to or reading the first one ahead of time or there will be a lot of things that don’t make sense.
This felt on-par with book one with the somewhat confusing world building - like there was a collapse and everything fell apart, and people are starving and everything is chaos, but there’s a still a zoo? And you can buy a burner phone? And satellites are still in orbit? - it all feels a little too conveniently inconsistent for me. I did really appreciate that the FMC Rachel was much less of a dithering dingdong this time around.
Overall, this was entertaining enough with some fun surprises along the way, and I’d definitely listen to a third book to see where it goes next.
* thanks to Macmillan Audio for the NetGalley audiobook. Cold Storage publishes in January 2025.
Great narration by Scott Brick (of course)!
This is book two of the Revival series, and I highly recommend listening to or reading the first one ahead of time or there will be a lot of things that don’t make sense.
This felt on-par with book one with the somewhat confusing world building - like there was a collapse and everything fell apart, and people are starving and everything is chaos, but there’s a still a zoo? And you can buy a burner phone? And satellites are still in orbit? - it all feels a little too conveniently inconsistent for me. I did really appreciate that the FMC Rachel was much less of a dithering dingdong this time around.
Overall, this was entertaining enough with some fun surprises along the way, and I’d definitely listen to a third book to see where it goes next.
* thanks to Macmillan Audio for the NetGalley audiobook. Cold Storage publishes in January 2025.
July 2, 2025
2 1/2 Stars: This series really isn’t my cup of tea. While he has interesting characters, they are mostly two dimensional and we’re not really given the chance to know them better. It drove me crazy with the numerous inconsistencies, time and technology that makes no sense. I liked the Breakthrough series, this novel was just meh. 🫤
November 25, 2024
This was hands-down one of the worst books I've ever read, and I once slogged through Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard. I realized that this was part of a series right around page two, but the author didn't bother recapping anything, or even providing anything but the barest context within the story arc. It wouldn't have mattered: cardboard cutout characters, pacing and dialog straight out of low-budget network TV, and plot straight out of 1960s comic books, a complete amalgamation of very ill-thought-out sci fi tropes. Couldn't believe this got published.
January 16, 2025
Sorry, But Not Worth My Time
The author really should learn the difference between a complete sentence snd a sentence fragment. Reading this grammatically awful piece was distracting due to the amazing number of sentence fragments passed off as complete sentences. I was a high school English teacher; This writing would have earned a “ D”.
The plot was inventive, but I thought it was unnecessarily complicated and not worth the effort.
The author really should learn the difference between a complete sentence snd a sentence fragment. Reading this grammatically awful piece was distracting due to the amazing number of sentence fragments passed off as complete sentences. I was a high school English teacher; This writing would have earned a “ D”.
The plot was inventive, but I thought it was unnecessarily complicated and not worth the effort.
March 23, 2025
Tiny chapters give the feel of a swiftly moving plot, but is very distracting from the story. The short chapters make it difficult to build characters, background, society, etc. The bad science and economics are distracting. It feels cheap and hastily written by throwing cliches together. Not well written, or crafted, or conceived. It generally makes no sense.
March 28, 2025
cold storage by michael c. grumley 🥶
genre : sci-fi techno-thriller
My 💭:
[20/3/25 3.29 PM]
This book is the second part of a duology and I read this one first 🤦♀️. Regrets! Now I have to read book 1 and then this one again 🙂. Although, the blurb says that it is a standalone book, I'll recommend reading book 1 because the plot of this duology is THAT good 😍.
My fellow Blake Crouch and science fiction genre fans, I have found our new addiction 🤩!
When I first heard of the term 'techno-thriller', I was immediately interested. Being a nerd, this entails to my vibe perfectly. And after finishing this book, I can say that it's not just a techno thriller, it's a sci-fi one too. So, yes, it was a treasure trove for my brain. Reading this book since yesterday, my mood was 10x better than the rest of my week.
So, the story mainly revolves around this guy, John Reiff, who was preserved using cryogenics for quite some time to protect his life. But he got revived and then unexpected complications start that even his doctor, Rachel, is confused about. And parallely, a group of very powerful people are hunting Reiff and his team as Reiff's DNA contains a scientific breakthrough that they want to use for nefarious reasons, aka, to make the rich and powerful immortal. So far, it sounds like a perfect techno thriller, right? And then, in a shocking twist, we get to know the REAL reason behind this crygenics experiment and believe me, YOU'LL BE REELING. Hint : there's a spaceship involved 😍.
As much as I want to talk about this book, I can't as I might end up revealing some spoilers. But trust me, this book was the perfect thriller with suspenseful yet easy going narration. There are 4 narrators in total, but it's not confusing at all. Hell, it made my whole reading experience much much awesome. Ah gods, when will we have the futuristic technology from this book?? 😭
Omw to read all the other books by this author 💯.
Would you want to be frozen using cryogenics so that you can experience the distant future?
genre : sci-fi techno-thriller
My 💭:
[20/3/25 3.29 PM]
This book is the second part of a duology and I read this one first 🤦♀️. Regrets! Now I have to read book 1 and then this one again 🙂. Although, the blurb says that it is a standalone book, I'll recommend reading book 1 because the plot of this duology is THAT good 😍.
My fellow Blake Crouch and science fiction genre fans, I have found our new addiction 🤩!
When I first heard of the term 'techno-thriller', I was immediately interested. Being a nerd, this entails to my vibe perfectly. And after finishing this book, I can say that it's not just a techno thriller, it's a sci-fi one too. So, yes, it was a treasure trove for my brain. Reading this book since yesterday, my mood was 10x better than the rest of my week.
So, the story mainly revolves around this guy, John Reiff, who was preserved using cryogenics for quite some time to protect his life. But he got revived and then unexpected complications start that even his doctor, Rachel, is confused about. And parallely, a group of very powerful people are hunting Reiff and his team as Reiff's DNA contains a scientific breakthrough that they want to use for nefarious reasons, aka, to make the rich and powerful immortal. So far, it sounds like a perfect techno thriller, right? And then, in a shocking twist, we get to know the REAL reason behind this crygenics experiment and believe me, YOU'LL BE REELING. Hint : there's a spaceship involved 😍.
As much as I want to talk about this book, I can't as I might end up revealing some spoilers. But trust me, this book was the perfect thriller with suspenseful yet easy going narration. There are 4 narrators in total, but it's not confusing at all. Hell, it made my whole reading experience much much awesome. Ah gods, when will we have the futuristic technology from this book?? 😭
Omw to read all the other books by this author 💯.
Would you want to be frozen using cryogenics so that you can experience the distant future?
December 15, 2024
So, as I now see in a few reviews, this is book #2 in the series…so you may want to read book #1 first.
That being said, this was quite the ride!! Reiff is a “lab rat” for a cryogenics project, with hopes that people can be frozen, and then thawed, and return to life…maybe in different times… maybe healthier… maybe for other reasons.
And, as happens with new technology, sometimes draft number one is not always the best…
Although it seems to be a great idea with some valid points, there are always those who are not in it to make progress for all, but only for a select few! This is one of those times…
So, Reiff and the crew go about trying to make history, and yet at times, just trying to STAY ALIVE…to see another day is a big order! 😮
Fast paced, lots of theories, lots of action (and killing)…
But, overall a great read!!
And, if you listen to the audiobook, you have the bonus of a terrific narrator in Scott Brick!!
And it felt like a ‘Reacher’ book (a bit) because of the narrator! 😄
#ColdStorage by #MichaelCGrumley and narrated beautifully by #ScottBrick.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is **** DUE TO HIT SHELVES ON 1/7/25 ****
..so a few short weeks away!!
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That being said, this was quite the ride!! Reiff is a “lab rat” for a cryogenics project, with hopes that people can be frozen, and then thawed, and return to life…maybe in different times… maybe healthier… maybe for other reasons.
And, as happens with new technology, sometimes draft number one is not always the best…
Although it seems to be a great idea with some valid points, there are always those who are not in it to make progress for all, but only for a select few! This is one of those times…
So, Reiff and the crew go about trying to make history, and yet at times, just trying to STAY ALIVE…to see another day is a big order! 😮
Fast paced, lots of theories, lots of action (and killing)…
But, overall a great read!!
And, if you listen to the audiobook, you have the bonus of a terrific narrator in Scott Brick!!
And it felt like a ‘Reacher’ book (a bit) because of the narrator! 😄
#ColdStorage by #MichaelCGrumley and narrated beautifully by #ScottBrick.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is **** DUE TO HIT SHELVES ON 1/7/25 ****
..so a few short weeks away!!
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January 8, 2025
Cold Storage by Michael C. Grumley picks up where Deep Freeze leaves off. While I've seen his marketed as a standalone novel I disagree, without the knowledge of Deep Freeze I'm not sure it would be easy to invest in. A thrilling story about survival, Cold Storage brings with it a pre-apocalyptic dystopian vibe that aligns with the current state of affairs in the United States. I have a deep passion for books that act as a foreshadowing of real life and Cold Storage does just that in spades.
We meet Army Veteran John Reiff again, this time having been frozen for a second time and brought back, he doesn't have the luxury of a quiet recovery. On the run with his body doing strange things, Reiff must rely on those around him to keep him safe. Back in the lab an even bigger secret is uncovered and the origins of why John Reiff's unthawing was so special, and important, is revealed. Another frozen body, another story to unlock, with devastating consequences for everyone involved Cold Storage is a face paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The ending left room for more, so I hope a third book in the Revival Series is on its way!
For Audio: Scott Brick is a master of voices and his pitch and tone were perfectly synced for the fast paced nature of the story. I struggled to put it down from start to finish.
Thank you Forge & Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC/ALC.
***50 State Challenge: Arizona
We meet Army Veteran John Reiff again, this time having been frozen for a second time and brought back, he doesn't have the luxury of a quiet recovery. On the run with his body doing strange things, Reiff must rely on those around him to keep him safe. Back in the lab an even bigger secret is uncovered and the origins of why John Reiff's unthawing was so special, and important, is revealed. Another frozen body, another story to unlock, with devastating consequences for everyone involved Cold Storage is a face paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The ending left room for more, so I hope a third book in the Revival Series is on its way!
For Audio: Scott Brick is a master of voices and his pitch and tone were perfectly synced for the fast paced nature of the story. I struggled to put it down from start to finish.
Thank you Forge & Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC/ALC.
***50 State Challenge: Arizona
December 30, 2024
3.5/5
Thank you @macmillan.audio @forgereads #partner #macaudio2024 for the gifted copies of this book!
I feel like a lot of Blake Crouch lovers will dive into this one and enjoy it! It was futuristic, uses scientific technology and was extremely mind bending! Using cryogenics, this population is exploring the effects of freezing people and getting them to live longer. Reiff, one of the characters is revived and it’s a race against time for him to figure out what happened to him, how it happened and exactly what he will do to keep a step ahead of the criminals trying to outsmart him!
One thing that’s for sure is this book will make you think about the “what if’s”. If this becomes reality in the future would it always be used with good intentions? Similar to AI I find myself wondering if the positives really do outweigh the negatives and Michael did a great job showing that bad intentions could have undesired consequences and outcomes! I love books that make me think and this one certainly did that. I loved how when they did testing they compared mice and the results of those tests. To me, it made the book feel all that much more real which I liked! If you are interested in a techno scifi thriller that is fast paced and will definitely make you think this book is for you!
Thank you @macmillan.audio @forgereads #partner #macaudio2024 for the gifted copies of this book!
I feel like a lot of Blake Crouch lovers will dive into this one and enjoy it! It was futuristic, uses scientific technology and was extremely mind bending! Using cryogenics, this population is exploring the effects of freezing people and getting them to live longer. Reiff, one of the characters is revived and it’s a race against time for him to figure out what happened to him, how it happened and exactly what he will do to keep a step ahead of the criminals trying to outsmart him!
One thing that’s for sure is this book will make you think about the “what if’s”. If this becomes reality in the future would it always be used with good intentions? Similar to AI I find myself wondering if the positives really do outweigh the negatives and Michael did a great job showing that bad intentions could have undesired consequences and outcomes! I love books that make me think and this one certainly did that. I loved how when they did testing they compared mice and the results of those tests. To me, it made the book feel all that much more real which I liked! If you are interested in a techno scifi thriller that is fast paced and will definitely make you think this book is for you!
April 23, 2025
This is book 2 in the Revival series and I highly recommend reading book 1, Deep Freeze first. I'm not sure what I expected when I saw book 2 was finally out but I was hoping for a little more. With AI being in the news this book gives an example of things that can go wrong.
Technology never works well the first time. Or even the second. Army veteran John Reiff is living proof. This time he is revived in the back of a dilapidated ambulance, on the run from a shadowy organization that is desperate to take him back. He is the first one, their archetype, and they need to know what happened after his escape. What is happening to his body and his mind. And they need to know now.
Because Reiff knows things he shouldn’t. About them and about what they are hiding. A secret that has been in cold storage for several hundred years. And the insidious, methodical plan that has been in motion for a half a century. John Reiff is their key—a problem, but also the solution. A lab rat gone rogue, and at the worst possible time. But they will find him. They have to. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Technology never works well the first time. Or even the second. Army veteran John Reiff is living proof. This time he is revived in the back of a dilapidated ambulance, on the run from a shadowy organization that is desperate to take him back. He is the first one, their archetype, and they need to know what happened after his escape. What is happening to his body and his mind. And they need to know now.
Because Reiff knows things he shouldn’t. About them and about what they are hiding. A secret that has been in cold storage for several hundred years. And the insidious, methodical plan that has been in motion for a half a century. John Reiff is their key—a problem, but also the solution. A lab rat gone rogue, and at the worst possible time. But they will find him. They have to. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
June 10, 2025
This and the previous book were cool stories, but the writing was incredibly frustrating. I've never known of another author whose characters force other characters to repeat themselves so frequently.
"How did I get here?"
"What?"
"How. Did. I. Get. Here?"
Interactions like this occurred nonstop throughout both books, and having listened to the audiobooks narrated by Scott Brick, at times I wondered if the irritation in his voice was genuine, 'cause every time a character had to repeat themself, he voiced it exactly how I wrote it above. One. Word. At. A. Time.
As a side note, I used to like Scott Brick, but lately I've found his narrating to be slightly annoying. His voice is always so forced, like he's reading it on the toilet while trying to push out a stubborn poop. And that's the voice he uses throughout the entirety of the book, all the characters are voiced the same, including the female characters, and it's difficult to tell any of them apart.
Anyway, 3-5 stars, I liked this book better than the first one, and despite the irritating writing, I'd still recommend it if you don't have anything better to read.
"How did I get here?"
"What?"
"How. Did. I. Get. Here?"
Interactions like this occurred nonstop throughout both books, and having listened to the audiobooks narrated by Scott Brick, at times I wondered if the irritation in his voice was genuine, 'cause every time a character had to repeat themself, he voiced it exactly how I wrote it above. One. Word. At. A. Time.
As a side note, I used to like Scott Brick, but lately I've found his narrating to be slightly annoying. His voice is always so forced, like he's reading it on the toilet while trying to push out a stubborn poop. And that's the voice he uses throughout the entirety of the book, all the characters are voiced the same, including the female characters, and it's difficult to tell any of them apart.
Anyway, 3-5 stars, I liked this book better than the first one, and despite the irritating writing, I'd still recommend it if you don't have anything better to read.
December 5, 2024
This is an interesting book about a man who is basically a test subject. John has so many secrets, and this book was so fun as it carefully revealed them. I got lost in the pages and the audio. I listened to this one and took turns reading my physical copy as well. It made for quite the reading experience. The audio was well done and really helped bring the story to life. I loved the narrator and think that they did a fantastic job. This book does get a little technical at times, but it isn’t overwhelming and fits into the story nicely. It is one of those books that you have to let yourself go, and just go with the flow. I think sometimes that can be tricky with dystopian, but once you do it is really great. This book is a great sequel, and while it says it can be read as a stand alone, I think that you will get so much more out of it if you read the first one before diving in here.
If you’re looking for a fun technological thriller, then you need to check this one out.
Thank you from @macmillian.audio and @forgereads for the advanced copies. All thoughts are my own.
If you’re looking for a fun technological thriller, then you need to check this one out.
Thank you from @macmillian.audio and @forgereads for the advanced copies. All thoughts are my own.
January 26, 2025
A very good dystopian mystery with lots of sci-fi mixed into it. The story takes place after some cyberwars (known as the Great Collapse) a couple of decades into the future. This book is a standalone thriller in the Revival Series, but I think it would be helpful to have read the first book - Deep Freeze.
Defrosting humans has terrible side effects, but that doesn’t stop the people in the Network from doing just that many years later. And who knew there was so much science behind a compost pile???
The book is full of detailed forensic precision and lots of storylines. But thankfully the author, Michael C. Grumley, answers most of them in the last 50 pages. Could there be another book in this series? I sure hope so.
I loved the short chapters! This was an easy, fast read. Page 210 hits home with our current politics - very interesting indeed.
It’s Star Trek meets The Ministry Of Time.
Huge thanks to @macmillanusa @forgereads @tor_publishing for this #arc #booksweeps #giveaway #coldstoragesweeps
Defrosting humans has terrible side effects, but that doesn’t stop the people in the Network from doing just that many years later. And who knew there was so much science behind a compost pile???
The book is full of detailed forensic precision and lots of storylines. But thankfully the author, Michael C. Grumley, answers most of them in the last 50 pages. Could there be another book in this series? I sure hope so.
I loved the short chapters! This was an easy, fast read. Page 210 hits home with our current politics - very interesting indeed.
It’s Star Trek meets The Ministry Of Time.
Huge thanks to @macmillanusa @forgereads @tor_publishing for this #arc #booksweeps #giveaway #coldstoragesweeps
February 13, 2025
𝑪𝑶𝑳𝑫 𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑨𝑮𝑬 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝑪. 𝑮𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒍𝒆𝒚 was thanks to @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 #partner.
John Reiff is brought back from being cryogenically frozen. Again. Being in a van on the run from a shady organization chasing him adds a certain level of difficulty to his recovery. This organization is clearly after this technology to extend their lives...right? Or is there more?
I was instantly captured by this story, having loved Deep Freeze, the first in the series. If you haven't read that release from last year, check it out, as this series is a fast-paced thrill!
The action was pretty intense from the beginning and rarely took a breather, making this a fun ride! I know nothing of cryogenics and assume all of this is far far from reality, but it sounded so plausible. The motivations for this potential technology were interesting and made for a great story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I absolutely recommend this audio, which was narrated by Scott Brick, who nailed the intensity. This has been out since January 7th, so a perfect winter thriller!
John Reiff is brought back from being cryogenically frozen. Again. Being in a van on the run from a shady organization chasing him adds a certain level of difficulty to his recovery. This organization is clearly after this technology to extend their lives...right? Or is there more?
I was instantly captured by this story, having loved Deep Freeze, the first in the series. If you haven't read that release from last year, check it out, as this series is a fast-paced thrill!
The action was pretty intense from the beginning and rarely took a breather, making this a fun ride! I know nothing of cryogenics and assume all of this is far far from reality, but it sounded so plausible. The motivations for this potential technology were interesting and made for a great story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I absolutely recommend this audio, which was narrated by Scott Brick, who nailed the intensity. This has been out since January 7th, so a perfect winter thriller!
July 24, 2025
This was the second in a series though listed as standalone. This might explain why the opening chapters seemed stark action with the bare bones of plot, though the characters and story line were fleshed out later. This was a tense, suspenseful sci-fi thriller based around rival groups researching the safe revival of humans after a time in cryonic freeze. While Rachel's group desperately seeks a way to keep their one survivor alive and to perfect the process, the other is led by a selfish elderly man who aims to preserve himself and reappear as a healthy young man in a future time (a rather frequent story line in crime mystery/sci fi novels). A strange object preserved in ice adds to the conflict and mystery. While Sci-fi movies show healthy people popping out of freeze pods and instantly going about their business, this book was far more interesting and realistic in detailing the length of time and the many physical, psychological and environmental steps that would be needed to bring a person from a cryonic state to a normal state of being.
January 14, 2025
This is another brilliantly written fast paced chilling thriller and the sequel to the fabulous Deep Freeze. It has a multi-layer plot that will captivate you and surprise you with revelations layer upon revelations that you do not see coming. We learn Army veteran John Reiff who has been revived from the dead is on the run from some very dangerous people who need to know what happened to him after his escape. John knows something is very wrong but not what and is not the only one these people are after and the reason for that will amaze you. The characters that come to John's aid are colorful and so well written. There is so much to this story and its exploits will really make you stop and think. You will learn a lot about cryonics as well. The conclusion will stun and shock you and leave you wanting more. This amazing author never disappoints. I highly recommend this fabulous thriller and would give it a 10 if I could.
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